Employability And Careers
Introduction
Guided by our vision to enhance lives, College of Birmingham (COB) introduced the “COB Employability Framework” in February 2017. This initiative focuses on equipping learners with skills that boost their employability and career advancement. Our goal is to see learners secure meaningful employment, progress professionally, or pursue further studies to achieve their aspirations. Through this framework, we are committed to preparing our students with the skills demanded by today’s employers.
What is the COB Employability Framework?
According to the OFS, employability refers to “…the additional skills and competencies that an individual gains as they progress through higher education, which improve and enhance their employment and career prospects.” Similarly, the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) emphasizes that employability encompasses knowledge, skills, and social capital.
To meet these expectations, the College ensures:
- Graduates are provided with career guidance for work or further education.
- Academic activities align with employment advice during their studies.
- Courses include work placements or employability skill development.
- Employability is integrated throughout the student journey.
- Students receive personalized employability support.
How Does the COB Employability Framework Benefit Students?
We aim to cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset in our students, empowering them for success whether they choose employment or business ventures. The framework offers students a competitive edge through:
- Opportunities for work placements where applicable.
- Instruction from highly qualified staff with both academic and business expertise.
- Training in skills and attributes highly valued by employers.
What Does the COB Employability Framework Offer?
The College supports employability through the following initiatives and activities:
- Collaborations with other institutions to enhance employability.
- Academic industrial tours.
- Work shadowing opportunities at company premises.
- Attendance at employment-related workshops and seminars.
- Recognition for demonstrating employability skills.
- Learning and teaching approaches informed by the professional expertise of staff.
- Involvement of external examiners/assessors from business, industry, and professions.
- Career guidance and employability workshops.
- Certifications in career and skill development.
- Opportunities for work-based learning.
- Real-life corporate scenario presentations evaluated by local employers.
- Support and guidance for launching business ventures.
- Regular workshops focused on CV writing, interview preparation, and personal profile development.
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